For Accepted Students

Welcome to DCAD's Class of 2017!

Congratulations! You are part of a select group of student artists and designers. The next two years are likely to be filled with a wealth of excitement, and we look forward to you joining us for this next chapter! The anticipation of beginning college brings many questions, concerns, and decisions. DCAD's Admissions, Student Services, and Financial Aid staff members are here to help you every step of the way. Welcome to DCAD!

What's Next?

It is important that you submit your tuition deposit to DCAD within two weeks of receipt of your acceptance packet to ensure enrollment for the fall semester, which begins August 31, 2015. If living on campus, your housing deposit is also required to reserve your space in DCAD’s residence halls.

Placement Tests and Optional Summer Intensive Academic Studies: Upon confirming your enrollment to DCAD, you’ll receive information about Placement Testing, administered by DCAD. The Placement Test is used as an assessment tool to provide us with your core competency overview and assist to determine academic classes you will register for as an incoming student. For your first semester at DCAD, you will either register for Academic Writing Lab or Writing and Literature I and Art History I. All students are required to take Placement Tests. Students will be given four testing dates to choose from and will only need to register for one. The Placement Test used is Accuplacer, coordinated through the CollegeBoard organization. For sample questions, click here, and feel free to download the iPhone app. If you place into Introduction to Academic Studies, you have the option to take this class during a summer preparatory program called Summer Intensive. For more information, please refer to: Summer Intensive Academic Studies.

To officially become a DCAD student:

Please complete and return the Enrollment Agreement Form along with a required $200 non-refundable* tuition deposit as soon as possible, and no later than May 1, 2015. In addition, students planning to live on-campus may reserve space in DCAD student housing with a $350 deposit. If you are planning to live on-campus, please also complete and return the Roommate Questionnaire and Meal Plan Contract.

Regardless if you are a resident or commuter, all students must complete a Meal Plan Contract. If you reside on campus, you are required to partake in DCAD’s Platinum 19 Meal Plan option. Commuter students may elect to enroll in a meal plan. Learn more about DCAD’s dining services.

Please return the required forms and deposits by mail; materials are enclosed in your Accepted Student Packet or may be downloaded as follows:

For more information, review our Admissions FAQs. Contact the Admissions Office at 302.622.8000 or email admissions@dcad.edu.*Should you withdraw your enrollment to DCAD prior to May 1, your tuition and housing deposits will be refunded.

Meet the Admissions TeamThe Admissions team serves as the gateway to DCAD. Each member is happy to help you with the transition from accepted student to enrolled student. Contact us with questions you may have about scheduling a campus visit or an overnight stay, sitting in on a class, changing your major, housing, financial aid, billing, and any general questions you may have, and we will forward you to the appropriate DCAD department.

Tracy StephanskiDirector of AdmissionsInternational Student AdvisorTracy has worked with international students since her early days in admissions over 15 years ago. She has traveled across South and Central America and Europe recruiting students, reviewing portfolios and building relationships with counselors, art teachers, students and their parents for many preeminent art and design institutions. With an MBA in International Business and the experience of growing up abroad, she has a keen sensibility of the particular needs of transitioning to an institution abroad and is pleased to continue to work with this student population at DCAD.

Bethany RobertsAssistant Director of AdmissionsStudents with last names beginning with M – ZBethany was born and raised in Delaware and graduated from DCAD with her degree in Interior Design in 2009. She contributes to the DCAD Twitter feed @d_c_a_d_ and manages the Facebook pages for each class. She has been working in Admissions for more than five years helping students develop their portfolios and successfully prepare their college application. Contact Bethany if your last name starts with M-Z.

Shelly SilvaAdmissions CounselorStudents with last names beginning with A – LShelly Silva earned her AFA degree from DCAD, and then continued her education at The Corcoran College of Art and Design where she received her BFA in Fine Art Photography with a focus on alternative processes in the darkroom. Shelly has worked at DCAD since September 2014 and focuses on communicating with prospective students about the benefits of going to an AFA transfer program like DCAD, all while helping them with the admissions process into DCAD. Contact Shelly if your last name starts with A-L.

Gerry DeeryAdmissions Administrative AssistantGeneral admissions questionsGerry Deery earned his BA in English from the University of Delaware in 2009. He has worked at DCAD for three years, initially as a member of the Student Services team serving as the Housing Coordinator. Now working in Admissions, Gerry has embraced the unique and specialized education that is available to students at DCAD. Typically when you contact the Admissions Office, he will be the one answering your call.

New Student OrientationSave the dates! New Student Orientation is scheduled for August 27 – August 30, 2015. Classes begin Monday, August 31, 2015. Orientation is mandatory for all new students. More information will be provided to you this spring.

Financial Aid HelpFirst, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and from there, the DCAD Financial Aid Office can create and send Financial Aid Award Packages. Please note, international students are not eligible for federal-based aid. Financial Aid Award Packages are sent within two weeks to three weeks after all documents and the FAFSA have been completed. If you have not filed a FAFSA, get started at www.fafsa.ed.gov. DCAD's School Code is 041398.

To get an estimate of what the package could look like, use DCAD's Net Price Calculator. Sample packages are also available to help you better visualize different combinations of aid. If you have questions or concerns regarding financial aid matters, call the Financial Aid Office at 302.622.8867 ext. 105 for Financial Aid Counselor, Ruth Graham-Hayes or email financialaid@dcad.edu.